Manchester United 4, Real Betis 1 (Round of 16, Europa League)
There was fighting amongst travelling fans at the end as Man Utd built a towering first leg lead over Real Betis with Ayoze Perez’ equaliser mere consolation after goals by Marcus Rashford, Antony, Bruno Fernandes, and Wout Weghorst.
The dominant second half performance put the Reds’ own embarrassment at Anfield last Sunday behind them.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 4, Real Betis 1 (Round of 16, Europa League)
David De Gea: 6. Gave away a great chance for Juanmi who fed Ayoze Perez for a shot that deflected away and came off the post.
Diogo Dalot: 6. Pushed forwards with little end result. Replaced at half time.
Raphael Varane: 7. Comfortable defending.
Lisandro Martinez: 7. In no man’s land for the Ayoze Perez goal. Blazed over later on when trying to get on the end of a Bruno Fernandes corner.
Luke Shaw: 7. Lost his man trying to cover for Lisandro Martinez for the Real Betis equaliser. Made up for that with a great corner from which Bruno Fernandes scored.
Casemiro: 6. Much better than his abberation on Sunday but gave away a dangerous looking free kick for Real Betis.
Fred: 6. Clearly offside before he crosses for a Wout Weghorst goal which was chalked off. Untidy at times.
Antony: 8. Laid in a great cross which deserved better from Wout Weghorst. Was given time and space to cut in from the right and curl a goal home from outside the box. Had a certain second saved by Claudio Bravo who saved a one on one chance.
Bruno Fernandes: 9. Set up goals for Marcus Rashford and Antony and then headed a third in for himself from Luke Shaw’s corner. Could have set up a fourth but Anthony lifted the ball over Bravo and onto the roof of the net.
Marcus Rashford: 8. Pounced on the loose ball when Luiz Felipe failed to control the ball after blocking Bruno Fernandes’ cross to quickly dispel any doubts after the Anfield massacre. Another shot saved by Claudio Bravo.
Wout Weghorst: 8. Thought he had scored with a chested ball but Fred was offside. Was offside when he got on the end of an Antony cross but frustratingly skied it and couldn’t get a clean shot off when Fred found him in the second half. More importantly he put in yet another tireless shift on goal, wasn’t put off by the poor shooting and finally exploded in emotion when he got his goal.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (on for Diogo Dalot, 46): 6. Solid replacement.
Jadon Sancho (on for Marcus Rashford, 65): 6. Didn’t affect the game.
Tyrell Malacia (on for Luke Shaw, 65): 6. Little to trouble him.
Facundo Pellistri (on for Antony, 81): No time to mark
Scott McTominay (on for Fred, 81): No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester United 4, Real Betis 1 (Round of 16, Europa League)
Man Utd 1, Real Betis 0: 6. Marcus Rashford left Luiz Felipe on his backside after rounding him when the Betis defender’s poor touch to block Bruno Fernandes’ cross went straight to the England man who finished with aplomb into the roof of the net.
Man Utd 1, Real Betis 1: 32. Ayoze Perez was in across of space down the Betis right when Juanmi put him through with a big switch from the left and the on-loan Betis man’s half volley swept in past David De Gea.
Man Utd 2, Real Betis 1: 52. Antony was fed by Bruno Fernandes and given space to cut inside from the right and curl the ball past Claudio Bravo from 20 yards out.
Man Utd 3, Real Betis 1: 58. Luke Shaw’s corner was met by Bruno Fernandes who found space and headed home at the near post.
Man Utd 4. Real Betis 1: 82. Wout Weghorst tucked away the rebound after Claudio Bravo saved but could not hold onto a shot from Scott McTominay which was set up by fellow sub Facundo Fellistri.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 4, Real Betis 1 (Round of 16, Europa League)
Man Utd: De Gea, Dalot (Wan-Bissaka 46), Varane, Martinez, Shaw (Malacia 65), Casemiro, Fred (McTominay 81), Antony (Pellistri 81), Fernandes, Rashford (Sancho 65), Weghorst
Man Utd Subs not used: Heaton, Butland, Lindelof, Maguire, Elanga, Garnacho, Mainoo
Bookings: Weghorst 56 (foul), Fernandes 68 (foul on Claudio Bravo)
Goals: Rashford 6; Antony 52; Fernandes 58; Weghorst 82
Real Betis: Bravo, Rodriguez (Guardado 65), Juanmi (Willian Jose 80), Henrique, Carvalho, Pezzella, Joaquin (Canales 59), Felipe, Vinicius, Perez (Guardado 59), Sabaly
Real Betis Subs not used: Rui Silva, Martin, Gonzalez, Ruiz, Iglesias, Rodri, Miranda, Perez
Goal: Perez 32
Referee: Daniel Siebert
Attendance: 72,998